Combined mat and scraper



(No Model.)

J. M. MORTON. COMBINED MAT AND SGRAPER. No. 543,999

Patented Aug. 6,1895.

.7, v /6/ TB WMM I combination, and arrangement of parts, as-

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN M. MORTON, OF CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA.

COMBINED MAT AND SCRAPER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 543,999, dated August6, 1895.

Application filed May 27, 1895". Serial No. 550,886. (no model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN M. MORTON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Cedar Rapids, in the county of Linn and State of Iowa, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combined Mat andScraper for Cars, 850.; and I do hereby declare the fol lowing to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

The object of this invention is to produce a combined scraper and matspecially adapted to railway-cars, hallways, and otherinteriors, theconstruction being such as to secure a proper cleaning of the feet onentering, the depositing of the dirt in a pan underneath, the easyremovalthereof, and the entire closure of the hole in the floor whichreceives said device.

The invention consists in the construction,

hereinafter fully set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,Figure 1 is a plan view of a device embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is alongitudinal section in vertical planes, the right half of the figurebeing central to Fig. 1 and the left half in the linear; 00.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the sill or floor-timber of arailway-coach or the floor-joists of a dwelling. B is the floor laidthereon, which is commonly double, as shown. In this is cut a hole toreceive the lower portion of a tray 0, the flanges O of which rest onthe adjoining floor, and in the case of a car should be secured thereto,as by screws a a. At a suitable distance from the top of this tray ashoulder O" is formed all around the inside to serve as a support forthe grate D. This grate has a series of transverse bars 61 01 about halfits length, the upper edges of which are practically flush with theupper surface of the tray-flanges, and serve as scrapers to remove dirtfrom the sole of the foot. The other half of the grate is in the natureof a tray with a perforated bottom, having a recess to receive the matE, which should stand a little higher than the grate, as shown. This matis fastened to the grate, as

pressed position.

by wires 1) b, so that when the grate is turned up on end to remove thedirt below the mat does not fall out of place. In the tray below thegrate is placed a removable pan F to catch the dirt falling through thescraper part and sifting down through the mat. The tray has a closedbottom, as shown, to close the hole made in the floor and exclude coldair. This is especially essential in the case of railway-coaches, thefloors of which are exposed directly to the outside air.

The grate has a hinged connection with the tray, by means of offset-lugsD D passing down through holes 0 0 formed in the flanges of the tray.These lugs prevent detachment of the grate at this end while the grateis in a horizontalposition, and when raised to an upright position, asindicated by the dotted lines, the lugs abut on the end of the tray andhold the grate slightly inclined backward, as shown. The other end ofthe grate is'provided with a combined handle and latch G, hinged betweenlugs 01' d formed at the'end of the grate. A downwardly-extendingportion of this handle G has a hook g formed thereon to catch under theshoulder formed in the tray, and thus holdsthe grate down at this endwhile the handle isin its normal de- The other portion of the handleproper G fits normally in a recess or socket c in the flange of thetray, the upper portion of the handle being flush with the surface ofsaid flange when in this position. The backward movement of the hook gis limited by a shoulder 0'', against which the 'handleabuts, asindicated by the dotted outline. The handle thus turns far enough todisengage the hook and give space for the fingers of the operatorwithout unnecessarily increasing the size of the aperture through theflange of the tray and the floor.

The device is primarily adapted for use in railway-coaches, and isdesigned to be set in the aisle near the door, with thesscraper nearerthe door than the mat. In the case of neat and careful persons thescraper will be used designedly, as well as the mat, while in the caseof thoughtless passengers much of the dirt on their shoes will bescuffed 0E as they cross the grate and mat unconsciously.

The importance of fastening the grate down in-railway-coaches will beapparent from the fact that accidents are likely to occur, and the grateshould not fall out of its place in the tipping or overturning of a car.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. The combination with thefloor of arailway coach or other apartment, of the tray C havingmarginal flanges and a closed bottom, and provided with supportingledges or shoulders inside, the grate D having trans verse bars cl dabout half its length and a reboss the other half to hold a mat, saidgrate being hinged to the tray, and provided with suitable means forholding it in normal position, and for lifting one end, a mat secured insaid recess, and a pan set in said tray below the grate, to catch thedirt falling through.

2. The combination with the floor of a railway coach or other apartment,of the tray C", having marginal flanges G, shoulder 0, holes 0 c, andsocket c, the grate D having transverse bars cl d occupying about halfits length, a perforated recess formed in the remainder thereof, andprovided Withlugs D Dand d d, the mat E secured in said recess, thehandle G having latch g g hinged to lugs d d and havinga limitedmovement to engage and disengage With the tray, and a pan F set in thetray below said grate, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN M. MORTON.

Witnesses: J. M. ST. JOHN, FRANK CHRISTLE.

